1. Hindu Rituals

2. Puja Puja: Hindu worship ceremony
Worshipping one or more Hindu deities
The image of a deity is called a murti.
Usually takes place in the home, but it can also be conducted in a temple.

3. Puja in a Hindu Home
Most Hindu families have a place of worship in their home.
Worshippers remove their shoes, ring a bell to summon the murti, light a lamp, and burn incense.
The murti is washed and decorated with garlands or flower petals.
A small amount of red paste is placed on the foreheads of the murti and the worshippers.

4. Puja in a Hindu Home
Worshippers make an offering of fruit, light, flowers, or sweets to the murti.
A lamp is moved around the murti to indicate the presence of God.
Devotees place both hands above the lamp flame and touch their foreheads to receive the deity’s blessing.
Any food that has been part of the puja is eaten by everyone present.

6. How does engaging all of the senses make worship more meaningful?
What is the significance and purpose of the images of the deities used during puja?

7. Temple Worship Hindus visit the mandir (temple) any time
Can drop in any time or day of the week
A Hindu temple is a complex of shrines, each devoted to a different deity
Main deity in the centre
As worshippers enter the temple, they remove their shoes and wash their hands then approach the shrine to make an offering
As they approach, they ring a bell to announce their arrival to the murti.
Video

8. Temple Worship
Puja in the temple is similar to the ritual in Hindu homes, but is led by a priest
Ritual service begins with the singing of mantras (sacred sounds/words/phrases) and traditional Indian music
The priest will perform puja while chanting verses from the scriptures
Worshippers sing and clap while the lamp is circled around the deities
Priest may take the lamp around worshippers to bless worshippers
The service ends with a sharing of the blessed food offering

9. Temple Worship
In another important ritual, havan, a fire offering, the priest lights a fire, then pours butterfat or oil into it while chanting from the Vedas
The priest offers prayers for purity, dips his finger into water, then touches his ears, eyes, nose, mouth, arms, body, and legs
Worshippers do the same to remind themselves that God lives within them

10. Homework
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